How to Care for a Bamboo Floor

Bamboo flooring has strength and durability along with the aesthetics many people are looking for when choosing flooring for their homes or businesses. After the installation process, it is important to take proper care of the bamboo flooring to ensure it lasts a long time and maintains its beauty with age. Understanding proper cleaning, care, and maintenance of a bamboo floor before installing it is one way to make sure this happens.

Keeping bamboo floors clean is not too different from cleaning other types of flooring, but there are some differences to be noted.

To avoid issues with dirt, dust, and other potentially harmful items on the floor, do not allow shoes to be worn in the home. Use mats at doorways to help people remember to wipe their feet or take their shoes off before stepping onto the floor surface. Wear slippers in the home to protect feet from other dangers. Clean shoes and mats regularly to prevent the transfer of dust, dirt, pebbles, and other debris.

Though bamboo flooring is highly durable and well suited for high traffic areas of a home or business, to prevent early signs of wear and tear, it is a good idea to use rugs in high traffic areas to protect the surface of the floor. Just as with mats and shoes, these rugs should be cleaned regularly to prevent debris transferring onto the floor.

Taking care of a bamboo floor sounds more painful than it really is. With a few simple adjustments to the daily routine, it will become second nature in no time.

Dust and dirt can scratch the surface of bamboo flooring over time, so it is important to sweep often. It is necessary to use a soft cloth or pad to ensure that dust and dirt are removed from the floor rather than pushed around it.

Using a damp mop sometimes is an acceptable method of cleaning and caring for a bamboo floor. Because bamboo floors cannot handle large amounts of moisture, it is important to be sure the mop is not too wet.

Clean spills as soon as they happen to prevent moisture from seeping into the flooring. Do not use any abrasive materials, such as pot scrubbers or steel wool, to clean the spill because these fibers can scratch the surface of the flooring. If there is an oily spill, it will need immediate attention, as this could potentially cause a stain on the flooring. Dry the floor immediately after the spill has been cleaned.

To maximize time spent cleaning the floors and prevent damage, here are a few tips to help with cleaning the floors.

The easiest way to ensure proper care of the flooring is to clean it once a week. While there should be maintenance done at some point every day, giving all flooring surfaces a thorough cleaning each week keeps the floors in best condition.

Along with sweeping, which is generally the most effective way to clean this type of flooring, light mopping can be done. Using a small amount of water (only ever using a slightly damp mop), bamboo flooring can usually be cleaned with quality hardwood floor cleaning solutions. Stay away from non-alkaline cleaners and wax as they may affect the finish. When using water or other cleaning solutions, be sure to thoroughly wring out the mop before using it on the floor. If moisture seeps into the seams between the planks, your floors could be damaged.

For spills that are gooey or sticky, remove as much as possible with a dry cloth or towel. Wipe any remaining spill with a damp cloth, making sure not to scrub because this will push the material down into the flooring surface. Blot the sticky or gooey spot several times until the spill is gone and dry immediately with a soft cloth to prevent further damage. The sooner a spill is attended to, the less likely it is to stain or cause damage to the surface.

Ongoing maintenance is the best way to care for the bamboo floors in a home or business. Cleaning the floor surfaces regularly and taking precautionary measures with shoes, rugs, and mats will prevent damage and preserve the beauty and condition of the floor.

Be sure to sweep the floor with a soft cloth broom at least once a day. If possible, once in the morning and once in the evening, or after periods of high traffic is even better. If something spills on the floor, take care of it at once. Dust and dirt left on the floor for long periods of time will get pushed around as people walk through the room, causing it to create minute scratches in the finish. Over time, these scratches will diminish the appearance of the floor, causing it to show its age.

While bamboo flooring is resistant to dents and scratches, it doesn’t mean it is impervious. Wearing stiletto heels or cleats in the home or business will wear the floor down much quicker and leave it more susceptible to dents. The more often shoes such as those are worn, the more likely they will cause damage to the surface.